January ACESS Meeting - Baerlocher Expansion

Expanding capacity in a challenging environment

With the continued growth in plastic resin production and conversion in North America, Baerlocher is continuing to invest in additive technology, production capacity and people to meet the increasing demand, higher quality requirements and lower costs needs of the industry. In 2017, Baerlocher announced an investment to bring a 50% increase in reaction capacity for production of metals soaps for plastic lubricants and stabilizers. Though followed with other investments in other Baerlocher production lines in the US in 2017, the installation and commissioning of the announced reactor has been the most challenging project since the plant was built in 2001.

Ed Hall will highlight some of the challenges faced by the Baerlocher team to install this new line in a plant running 24/7 to meet increasing customer demand with strong capacity constraint in an environment lending itself to the creation of explosive dust. The team will use this experience to tackle an even greater project challenge in the plant and in the administration building in 2018.

Meeting Information

Member and/or guest $30, Retired $25, Student $10New Member - first meeting FreeNetworking / Bar 5:30 p.m. , Dinner 6:00 p.m., Program Following DinnerReservations must be in by noon on Friday the 5th and can be made to Gary Taylor at 330-419-4380 or akronspe1@gmail.com. Please be sure to include the company affiliation of each attendee including dietary restrictions.

Bio - Ed Hall

In 1995 Ed graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Kentucky. He started his career with Hitachi as an automotive design engineer. Ed then spent time with Toyota-Denso as the North American Warranty Quality Manager before being offered an opportunity to serve in various commercial roles at GE Plastics.

In 2007 Ed came on board with Baerlocher as the Sales and Customer Service Manager and since has held different roles within the company. Beginning January 2016 Ed took over as President and CEO for Baerlocher North America.

Ed is continuing his education as a student at the Universidad de Navarra, Barcelona Business College graduate school and will graduate in 2018.